The 2023 season marks the 11th year for Michelle Richardson as the head coach of the Chaminade University women's soccer team.

Richardson, the all-time winningest coach in program history, became the first Silversword soccer coached tabbed as Pacific West Conference Coach of the Year after guiding them to the PacWest Hawai'i Pod title during the spring 2021 season.

Richardson guided the 'Swords to a 7-6-3 mark in 2022, the second consecutive winning championship season -- and third overall -- with a 4-3-3 record in the PacWest, the first-ever winning record inside the conference. They also reached 15 conference points for the second straight season while their fifth-place finish in the PacWest was the best ever. Three Silverswords were named to the All-PacWest Team.

During the fall 2021 season, the 'Swords posted their first-ever winning season, finishing the year 7-6, aided by a three-game winning streak on the road towards the ending of the season. With a 5-5 PacWest mark, both win totals are program records.

Despite the hardships created by the COVID-19 pandemic which forced the playing year to be moved from the traditional fall season to the spring of 2021, the 'Swords were able to capture the Hawai'i Pod title with a 1-0-3 mark, the program's first, which was also the only win by a Hawai'i school during the shortened spring campaign. Forward Randi Fontes made history by becoming the first Chaminade soccer player -- men's and women's -- to be named the PacWest Player of the Year after leading the conference in goals (5) and goals per game (1.25). In addition to Fontes' honor, transfer Hoku Schatz was named the PacWest Newcomer of the Year, giving Chaminade three of the conference's five major postseason awards.

In 2019, the Silverswords had their top defensive season, setting team records by allowing just 21 goals and a 1.50 goals per game. Fontes earned All-Pacific West Conference honors for a second straight year while freshman goalkeeper Naomi Takata set program records with a 1.43 goals against average and shutouts (4). The team's 11 goals are the third-highest in program history while the 31 points and 2.21 points per game are second all-time.

The 2018 'Swords posted a 1.66 GAA which, at the time, was the third-lowest in program history. Improved performances at the center-back spots also resulted in just 225 opponent shot attempts with 85 saves, both record-lows. They also did not surrender three goals in any match, the first-ever occurrence since becoming an intercollegiate program in 2006.

In 2017 they won three matches and along with their program-record four in 2016, is the most successful consecutive seasons in program history. Under Richardson's tutelage, the team shattered program records in points (52), goals (19) and assists (14). Meanwhile junior forward Caitlin Tatemichi had one of the finest seasons by a 'Sword, setting single-season records in points (20) and goals (9) to earn All-Pacific West Conference Second Team honors. Sophomore midfielder Cailla Fabro set a single-season record in assists (4) while junior goalkeeper Brandee Lane became the program's career leader in wins.

All four victories in 2016 came in Pacific West Conference action which is also a program-best. The squad showed marked improvement on both sides of the ball as their 23 points and nine goals were second-best in single-season history at the time. Conversely on the defensive side, they allowed 1.56 goals per match, the lowest in program history.

Richardson guided Chaminade to a 3-11-1 mark in 2014, setting a then-program record for wins in a season. All three victories came on the continental United States. In the previous eight years of the program's existence, the Silverswords had never won on the Mainland. She also coached junior forward Twyla Hamasaki to All-PacWest Second Team honors, as Hamasaki became the first Chaminade women's soccer player in seven years to earn all-conference kudos.

She also helped bring a defensive mindset to the program. The 2014 team surrendered 24 goals to the opposition, another program record.

Richardson began building the team's foundation during her first year as head coach in 2013. That season saw the team snap a 43-match losing streak spanning two years with a 1-0 win over Holy Names on October 31. Despite that match being the lone win of the season, the 'Swords were highly competitive, dropping nine contests decided by two goals or less including a pair in overtime. The team had only five such games the previous season. They also surrendered 44 goals which, at the time, was the program record. The 'Swords had allowed 62 the season before her arrival.

Her teams have also enjoyed success in the classroom. Since taking over as head coach, 68 'Swords have been named Academic All-PacWest.

Prior to Chaminade, Richardson was the head coach at Kalani High School in Honolulu. In her six seasons there, she guided the Falcons to two O'ahu Interscholastic Association (OIA) East titles as well as an OIA Red (Division I) runner-up and Hawai'i High School Athletic Associtation Division I third-place finishes. During her tenure, she also helped place numerous players into NCAA Division I and II schools on soccer scholarships.

Before moving to O'ahu, Richardson coached in her native San Francisco, guiding the Bay Area Oaks club soccer team as well as coaching at the Olympic Development Program (ODP) Region IV. As well as coaching in the Bay Area, she also played professionally with the San Francisco Nighthawks of the Women's Professional Soccer League (WPSL) and before that, played professionally overseas for Fortuna in Hjorring, Denmark.

Richardson played collegiately at Saint Mary's College in Moraga, California, lettering all four years and serving as team captain during her senior season. During her playing days with the Gaels, she also was the head coach at Campolindo High School in Moraga. She earned her Bachelor's degree at SMC with a double major in Psychology and Biology. She later earned her Master's in Biology from San Francisco State University.

Honors:

Spring 2021 PacWest Coach of the Year

Richardson's Coaching Record

Season

Overall

Pct.

Conf.

Pct.

Notes

2013

1-15

.062

1-11

.083

2014

3-11-1

.200

3-8-1

.250

2015

1-16

.059

0-13

.000

2016

4-11-1

.281

4-8-1

.346

2017

3-11-2

.250

2-9-2

.231

2018

1-12-1

.107

0-10-1

.045

2019

3-8-3

.321

3-7-1

.318

S 2021

1-0-3

.625

1-0-3

.625

PacWest Hawai'i Pod champion

F 2021

7-6-0

.538

5-5-0

.500

2022

7-6-3

.531

4-3-3

.500

Totals

31-96-14

.270

23-74-12

.282